You might be wondering if cover letters are really necessary anymore. In some cases, they aren’t. However, many job applications will ask for one and in that case, you must be aware of how to write an effective cover letter that can give you a chance to stand out.
Also Read: Resume Do’s and Don’ts to Kick-Start Your Career in 2022
What’s the difference between a cover letter and a resume?
A cover letter is more personal than a resume because it allows you to showcase a little more of your personality, experience, and skills. In a resume, you focus on your educational qualification, work experience and skills, but you cannot tell the recruiter why you are interested in this job and why the recruiter should select you. You can tell all this through the cover letter.
The cover letter gives you the opportunity to elaborate on your story before getting to interview with the company HR. You get a chance to reveal your qualifications for the job and explain what makes you a good fit. The employer also gets to know more about your current situation. A cover letter gives you the opportunity to define your personal brand and demonstrate what type of core values you can bring to the company.
Now that you know the importance of a cover letter, make sure that your cover letter includes the below-mentioned elements to make it stand out:
- Start the cover letter with contact information: It is important to start your cover letter with your contact information and the title of the job you are applying for.
- Full name
- Your job title
- Home address
- Contact number
- Email address
- LinkedIn profile and other relevant social media handles such as Twitter
- Greet the hiring manager: It’s a good idea to call the company and ask for the hiring manager’s name. Explain that you are applying for a job and would like to address your cover letter to the right person. The most professional salutation for a cover letter is “Dear.” Even an email cover letter should start with “Dear,” followed by the hiring manager’s first and last name.
- Grab the attention through your introduction: First impression matters, especially when it comes to your job. Recruiters get hundred to thousands of applications daily/weekly. They might not read every single cover letter end-to-end. So, it’s essential to catch their attention from the very first paragraph. Begin your introduction with a professional anecdote. Tell the hiring manager about your career highlights or a turning point.
- Why are you the perfect person for the job? Talking about how great the position would be for you and your career doesn’t help because the person hiring you may already have figured that out. What they really want to know is about the value that you will bring to the company. Try to identify the company’s problems that they may want you to solve. Then, emphasize the skills and experience you have that make you the right person to solve them. This is where you showcase your professional skills and convince the HR manager that you’re a better fit for the job than all the other applicants.
- Wrap up with a call to action: Close your cover letter with a clear call to action such as:-
- Please call me if you require any further details
- Please go through a portfolio of my work by clicking my website link.
The hiring manager should know what you expect from them when they finish reading your cover letter. Thank the hiring manager for their time. It is basically to tell them that you appreciate they took interest in you, and you are eager to work with them.
- Right formal closing: Once you have concluded, all you have to do is write down a formal closing using below examples:
- Yours sincerely
- Best regards
- Thanks for your consideration
- With best regards
- Respectfully yours
When you email a job application letter, ensure to include a signature with your name.
Finally, format your cover letter and make sure the text is easy to read with clean design elements. Always use the same fonts in both the documents to be professional in style.
